• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 1999

A series of organosulfur compounds were synthesized with the aim of developing chemopreventive compounds active against hepatotoxicity and chemical carcinogesis. 2-(Allylthio) prazine (2-AP) was effective in inhibiting cytochrome P450 2E1-mediated catalytic activities and protein expression, and in inducing microsomal epoxide hydrolase and major glutathione S-transferases. 2-AP reduced the hepatotoxicity caused by toxicant sand elevated cellular GSH content. Development of skin tumors, pulmonary adenoma and aberrant crypt foci in colon by various chemical carcinogens was inhibited by 2-AP pretreatment. Anticarcinogenic effects of 2-AP at the stage of initiation of tumors were also observed in the aflatoxin B1 ($AFB_1$)-induced three-step medium-term hepatocarcinogenesis model. Reduction of $AFB_1$-DNA adduct by 2-AP appeared to result from the decreased formation of $AFB_1$-8,9-epoxide via suppression of cytochrome P450, while induction of GST 2-AP increases the excretion of glutathione-conjugated $AFB_1$ . 2-AP was a radioprotective agent effective against the lethal dose of total body irradiation and reduced radiation-induced injury in association with the elevation of detoxifying gene expression. 2-AP produces reactive oxygen species in vivo, which is not mediated with the thiol-dependent production of oxidants and that NF-KB activation is not involved in the induction of the detoxifying enzymes. the mechanism of chemoprotection by 2-AP may involve inhibition of the P450-mediated metabolic activation of chemical carcinogens and enhancement of electrophilic detoxification through induction of phase II detoxification enzymes which would facilitate the clearance of activated metabolites through conjugation reaction.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.127-133
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• 2007

Metformin is a drug used to lower blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes via activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether metformin at the pharmacologically effective concentrations affects the expressions of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase and phase II antioxidant genes in the H4IIE cell. Treatment of the cells with either metformin or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) abrogated tert-butylhydroxyquinone (t-BHQ) induction of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase, a rate limiting enzyme of GSH synthesis. The ability of t-BHQ to induce glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), a major class of phase II detoxifying enzymes that playa critical role in protecting cells from oxidative stress or electrophiles, was also inhibited by the agents. Transcriptional gene repression by metformin was verified by the GSTA2 promoter luciferase assay. Moreover, either metformin or AICAR treatment significantly decreased t-BHQ-dependent induction of other GSTs (i.e., $GST{\mu}$ and $GST{\pi}$ forms). Taken together, our data indicate that metformin treatment may result in the repression of ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase and glutathione S-transferase genes possibly via AMPK activation.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.413-420
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• 2004

The objectives of present study were to investigate the effects of benzo[a]pyrene(BaP) on cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in rat hepatocyte primary culture. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were incubated for 24 hr, 48 hr or 72 hr in the presence of various concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 50 or 100 $\mu.$ M) of BaP. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by measuring glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(GOT) activity, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MIT) value. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) assay. Effects on antioxidant system were determined by measuring glutathione peroxidase(GPx) activity, glutathione reductase(GR) activity and glutathione concentration. Activities of GOT and LDH, MTT value as well as TBARS concentration were not affected by up to 100 $\muM$ of BaP for 24 hr incubation. However, BaP at the concentration of 50 $\muM$ for 48 hr incubation or at the concentration of 30 $\muM$ for 72 hr incubation began to increase LDH activity and TBARS concentration but decrease MTT value, representing that BaP caused cytotoxicity and decreased cell viability in dose- and time-dependent manners. GPx activity began to be decreased by BaP at the concentration of 50 $\muM$ for 72 hr incubation. Whereas, GR activity began to be decreased by BaP at the concentration of 20 $\muM$ for 72 hr incubation. Glutathione concentration began to be decreased by BaP at the concentration of 20 $\muM$ for 72 hr incubation and was further reduced to 90% by 100 $\muM$ of BaP. These results demonstrate that BaP caused cytoctoxicity and decreased cell viability by increasing lipid peroxidation and decreasing glutathione concentration as well as activities of GPx and GR.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.79-91
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• 2021

γ-Glutamylcysteine synthetase (Gcs1) and glutathione reductase (Glr1) activity maintains minimal levels of cellular methylglyoxal in Candida albicans. In glutathione-depleted Δgcs1, we previously saw that NAD(H)-linked methylglyoxal oxidoreductase (Mgd1) and alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh1) are the most active methylglyoxal scavengers. With methylglyoxal accumulation, disruptants lacking MGD1 or ADH1 exhibit a poor redox state. However, there is little convincing evidence for a reciprocal relationship between methylglyoxal scavenger genes-disrupted mutants and changes in glutathione-(in)dependent redox regulation. Herein, we attempt to demonstrate a functional role for methylglyoxal scavengers, modeled on a triple disruptant (Δmgd1/Δadh1/Δgcs1), to link between antioxidative enzyme activities and their metabolites in glutathione-depleted conditions. Despite seeing elevated methylglyoxal in all of the disruptants, the result saw a decrease in pyruvate content in Δmgd1/Δadh1/Δgcs1 which was not observed in double gene-disrupted strains such as Δmgd1/Δgcs1 and Δadh1/Δgcs1. Interestingly, Δmgd1/Δadh1/Δgcs1 exhibited a significantly decrease in H2O2 and superoxide which was also unobserved in Δmgd1/Δgcs1 and Δadh1/Δgcs1. The activities of the antioxidative enzymes erythroascorbate peroxidase and cytochrome c peroxidase were noticeably higher in Δmgd1/Δadh1/Δgcs1 than in the other disruptants. Meanwhile, Glr1 activity severely diminished in Δmgd1/Δadh1/Δgcs1. Monitoring complementary gene transcripts between double gene-disrupted Δmgd1/Δgcs1 and Δadh1/Δgcs1 supported the concept of an unbalanced redox state independent of the Glr1 activity for Δmgd1/Δadh1/Δgcs1. Our data demonstrate the reciprocal use of Eapx1 and Ccp1 in the absence of both methylglyoxal scavengers; that being pivotal for viability in non-filamentous budding yeast.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.823-828
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• 2016

The present study investigated the protective effect of naturally purified 4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-buten-2-one (DHP) from Phellinus linteus against naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcers in rats. To verify the protective effect of DHP on naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcers, various doses (1, 5, and 10 μg/kg) of DHP were pretreated for 3 days, and then gastric damage was caused by 80 mg/kg naproxen applied for 3 days. DHP prevented naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcers in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, 10 μg/kg DHP showed the best protective effect against naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcers. Moreover, DHP significantly attenuated the naproxen-induced lipid peroxide level in gastric mucosa and increased the activities of radical scavenging enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, in a dose-dependent manner. A histological examination clearly demonstrated that the gastric antral ulcer induced by naproxen nearly disappeared after the pretreatment of DHP. These results suggest that DHP can inhibit naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcers through prevention of lipid peroxidation and activation of radical scavenging enzymes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.400-404
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• 2011

Indomethacin is a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent that is known to induce severe gastric mucosal lesions. In this study, we investigated the effect of selenium on gastric mucosal lesions in rats. To confirm the curative effect of selenium against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers, gastric ulcers were induced by oral administration of 25 mg/kg indomethacin, and then different doses (10, 50, and 100 ${\mu}g$/kg of body weight) of selenium or vehicle were treated by oral gavage for 3 days. Oral administration of indomethacin clearly increased the gastric ulcer area in the stomach, whereas selenium applied for 3 days significantly decreased the gastric ulcer area in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, selenium markedly reduced the increase of lipid peroxidation induced by indomethacin in the gastric mucosa and increased activities of radical scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in a dose-dependent manner. These results reveal that selenium can heal indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers through elimination of the lipid peroxides and activation of radical scavenging enzymes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1392-1397
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• 2016

Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from the plant Curcuma longa, which is used for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study was undertaken to determine the protective effect of curcumin against naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcerations in rats. Different doses (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg) of curcumin or vehicle (curcumin, 0 mg/kg) were pretreated for 3 days by oral gavage, and then gastric mucosal lesions were caused by 80 mg/kg naproxen applied for 3 days. Curcumin significantly inhibited the naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcer area and lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, curcumin markedly increased activities of radical scavenging enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, 100 mg/kg curcumin completely protected the gastric mucosa against the loss in the enzyme, resulting in a drastic increase of activities of radical scavenging enzymes up to more than the level of untreated normal rats. Histological examination obviously showed that curcumin prevents naproxen-induced gastric antral ulceration as a result of direct protection of the gastric mucosa. These results suggest that curcumin blocks naproxen-induced gastric antral ulcerations through prevention of lipid peroxidation and activation of radical scavenging enzymes, and it may offer a potential remedy of gastric antral ulcerations.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.199-205
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• 2004

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 1 enzymes such as P450 1A1, 1A2, and 181 are known to be involved in the oxidative metabolism of various procarcinogens and are regarded as important target enzymes for cancer chemoprevention. Previously, several hydroxystilbene compounds were reported to inhibit P450 1 enzymes and were rated as candidate chemopreventive agents. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of 2-[2-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)vinyl]-thiophene (DMPVT), produced from the chemical modification of oxyresveratrol, on the activities of P450 1 enzymes. The inhibitory potential by DMPVT on the P450 1 enzyme activity was evaluated with the Escherichia coli membranes of the recombinant human cytochrome P450 1A1, 1A2, or 1B1 coexpressed with human NADPH-P450 reductase. DMPVT significantly inhibited ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) activities with $IC_{50}$ values of 61, 11, and 2 nM for 1A1, 1A2, and 1B1, respectively. The EROO activity in OMBA-treated rat lung microsomes was also significantly inhibited by OMPVT in a dose-dependent manner. The modes of inhibition by DMPVT were non-competitive for all three P450 enzymes. The inhibition of P450 1B1-mediated EROD activity by OMPVT did not show the irreversible mechanism-based effect. The loss of EROD activity in P450 1B1 with OMPVT incubation was not blocked by treatment with the trapping agents such as glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, or dithiothreitol. Taken together, the results suggested DMPVT to be a strong noncompetitive inhibitor of human P450 1 enzymes that should be considered as a good candidate for a cancer chemopreventive agent in humans.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.572-577
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• 1998

A soluble protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae provides protection against a thiol-containing oxidation system but not against an oxidation system without thiol. This 25-kDa protein acts as a peroxidase but requires the NADPH-dependent thioredoxin system or a thiol-containing intermediate, and was thus named thioredoxin peroxidase. The protective role of thioredoxin peroxidase against ionizing radiation, which generates reactive oxygen species harmful tocellular function, was investigated in wild-type and mutant yeast strains in which the tsa gene encoding thioredoxin peroxidase was disrupted by homologous recombination. Upon exposure to ionizing radiation, there was a distinct difference between these two strains in regard to viability and the level of protein carbonyl content, which is the indicative marker of oxidative damage to protein. Activities of other antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and glutathione reductase were increased at 200-600 Gy of irradiation in wild-type cells. However, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were not significantly changed by ionizing radiation in thioredoxin peroxidase-deficient mutant cells. These results suggest that thioredoxin peroxidase acts as an antioxidant enzyme in cellular defense against ionizing radiation through the removal of reactive oxygen species as well as in the protection of antioxidant enzymes.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-211
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• 2007

This study was designed to investigate the suppressive effect of chlorophyll a on nitric oxide (NO) production and intracellular oxidative stress. In addition, chlorophyll a regulation of nuclear factor (NF) ${\kappa}B$ activation and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression were explored as potential mechanisms of NO suppression in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cell line. RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were preincubated with various concentrations ($0-10\;{\mu}g/ mL$) of chlorophyll a and stimulated with LPS to induce oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Treatment with chlorophyll a reduced the accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), enhancing glutathione level and the activities of antioxidative enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), and glutathione reductase in LPS-stimulated macrophages compared to LPS-only treated cells. NO production was significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.05) with an $IC_{50}$ of $12.8\;{\mu}g/mL$. Treatment with chlorophyll a suppressed the levels of iNOS protein and its mRNA expression. The specific DNA binding activities of NFkB on nuclear extracts from chlorophyll a treated cells were significantly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ of $10.7\;{\mu}g/mL$. Chlorophyll a ameliorates NO production and iNOS expression through the down-regulation of NFkB activity, which may be mediated by attenuated oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 macrophages.